Our submission “Cambridge Southeast Transport, Greater Cambridge Partnership Public Consultation” (PDF, 4MB) sets out the detailed reasons for our view that the new public transport route extending from Addenbrookes to Granta Park should follow the alignment of the existing and former rail line through Great Shelford, Stapleford and Sawston.
As in our previous submissions, we take an integrated view across the whole region rather than considering only one specific section in isolation. Specific corridors need to be considered in their wider context, including with schemes such as Cambridge South Station, East-West Rail and with Cambridge metro plans put forward by the Combined Authority for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and the GCP.
Focussing on elements of the Cambridge Connect scheme that relate specifically Cambridge Southeast Transport, our submission drew the following main conclusions:
- Cambridge Connect supports development of a new public transport route in the Southeast following the alignment of the existing and former rail lines via Great Shelford / Stapleford.
- Based on current evidence, we do not concur with the conclusion that a new public transport route (whether light rail or busway) aligned with the existing and former rail line through Great Shelford is not feasible.
- Cambridge Connect does not support the route proposed by the GCP because of unacceptably high and unnecessary impacts on the Green Belt and on the highly valued rural landscape which lies in close proximity to Gog Magog Hills, which have not been sufficiently taken into account.
- Cambridge Connect supports light rail as the mode of delivery for the public transport route.
- Cambridge Connect supports grade separation of the existing rail line and the proposed new light rail line at Granham’s Road, where a new road bridge should be constructed over the public transport route. This would become the main vehicular route from Great Shelford to the A1307, with closure of Station Road / Hinton Way to through traffic, and pedestrian & cycle access continued via an underpass under the railway and light rail lines.
- Cambridge Connect supports a Park & Ride at Granta Park, although has not made site-specific assessments. The scale and size of the site chosen should take into account delivery of the new public transport route to Haverhill, which will influence demand for Park & Ride at this location.
- Before progressing new busways, a detailed plan for delivery of the long-term strategy for Cambridgeshire public transport needs to be adopted. Local solutions should then be designed so they integrate seamlessly into the overall strategic plan, both in terms of technologies used for the metro and also the routes.
- This strategy should be at an advanced stage of development when implementing local solutions, even if this would mean a short-term delay in delivery of some local improvements. This approach would avoid waste and ultimately bring substantial cost-savings, as well as deliver a superior outcome for residents and visitors.
